STEVE CHIOTAKIS: Forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi continue to bombard the port of Misrata. That’s as international leaders are in Rome today to discuss how best to help the rebels in Libya.

The BBC’s Rebecca Singer reports on a two-pronged economic approach western countries are now taking.

REBECCA SINGER: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says she’s going to work on using diplomatic, political and economic means to push Colonel Gaddafi out of power. Including the international sanctions already in place against Libya.

But as well as the stick, the British Foreign Secretary says a carrot is also needed. William Hague has made it clear that the international community needs to increase financial support to help countries in the Middle East and North Africa move towards a more open government.

WILLIAM HAGUE: While the people of Egypt and Tunisia made a monumental effort to bring change in their countries, the economic challenges they now face will be at least as great.

It’s a similar idea to the support given to former communist countries after the fall of the Berlin Wall — offering more open markets and sharing prosperity in return for political progress.

In London, I’m the BBC’s Rebecca Singer for Marketplace